Saturday, 3 September 2016

“If you define
eccentricity as creativity, then yes, creativity is eccentricity.” - Russell SmithErik Satie, original name
in full Eric Alfred Leslie Satie (born May 17, 1866, Honfleur, Calvados,
France—died July 1, 1925, Paris) French composer whose spare, unconventional,
often witty style exerted a major influence on 20th-century music, particularly
in France.Satie studied at
the Paris Conservatory, dropped out, and later worked as a café pianist. About
1890 he became associated with the Rosicrucian movement and wrote several works
under its influence, notably the Messe des pauvres (composed 1895; Mass of the
Poor). In 1893, when he was 27, Satie had a stormy affair with the painter
Suzanne Valadon. From 1898 he lived alone in Arcueil, a Paris suburb,
cultivating an eccentric mode of life and permitting no one to enter his
apartment. Beginning in 1905, he studied at the Schola Cantorum under Vincent
d’Indy and Albert Roussel for three years. About 1917 the group of young
composers known as Les Six adopted him as their patron saint. Later the School
of Arcueil, a group including Darius Milhaud, Henri Sauguet, and Roger
Désormiere, was formed in his honour.Satie’s music
represents the first definite break with 19th-century French Romanticism; it
also stands in opposition to the works of composer Claude Debussy. Closely
allied to the Dada and Surrealist movements in art, it refuses to become
involved with grandiose sentiment or transcendent significance, disregards
traditional forms and tonal structures, and characteristically takes the form
of parody, with flippant titles, such as “Trois
morceaux en forme de poire” (1903; Three Pieces in the Shape of a Pear) and
“Embryons Desséchés” (1913;
Desiccated Embryos), and directions to the player such as “with much illness”
or “light as an egg,” meant to mock works such as Debussy’s preludes. Satie’s
flippancy and eccentricity, an intimate part of his musical aesthetic, epitomised
the avant-garde ideal of a fusion of art and life into an often startling but
unified personality.He sought to
strip pretentiousness and sentimentality from music and thereby reveal an
austere essence. This desire is reflected in piano pieces such as “Trois Gnossiennes” (1890), notated
without bar lines or key signatures. Other early piano pieces, such as “Trois Sarabandes” (1887) and “Trois Gymnopédies” (1888), use
then-novel chords that reveal him as a pioneer in harmony. His ballet Parade
(1917; choreographed by Léonide Massine, scenario by Jean Cocteau, stage design
and costumes by Pablo Picasso) was scored for typewriters, sirens, airplane
propellers, ticker tape, and a lottery wheel and anticipated the use of jazz
materials by Igor Stravinsky and others. The word Surrealism was used for the
first time in Guillaume Apollinaire’s program notes for Parade. Satie’s
masterpiece, “Socrate” for four
sopranos and chamber orchestra (1918), is based on the dialogues of Plato. His
last, completely serious piano works are the “Five Nocturnes” (1919). Satie’s ballet “Relâche” (1924) contains a Surrealistic film sequence by René
Clair; the film score “Entr’acte”, or
“Cinéma”, serves as an example of his
ideal background, or “furniture,” music.Satie was
dismissed as a charlatan by musicians who misunderstood his irreverence and
wit. They also deplored the nonmusical influences in his life—during his last
10 years his best friends were painters, many of whom he had met while a café
pianist. Satie was nonetheless deeply admired by composers of the rank of
Darius Milhaud, Maurice Ravel, and, in particular, Claude Debussy—of whom he
was an intimate friend for close to 30 years. His influence on French composers
of the early 20th century and on the later school of Neoclassicism was
profound.The portrait of Erik
Satie above (oil on canvas) by Suzanne Valadon, 1892; is in the National Museum
of Modern Art, Paris.Here are some of
his most famous piano pieces played by Pascal Rogé:

Friday, 2 September 2016

“I want to have
a good body, but not as much as I want dessert.” - Jason LoveWe had some
people around to lunch today and as time was short, we had to make a dessert
very quickly. Thankfully all of the ingredients for this one were on hand, so dessert
materialised almost immediately we thought of it this morning. It was all nice
and chilled by lunchtime and everyone ate their fill and there was not a
smidgeon left!

Tiramisù Cups

Ingredients

1 shot of espresso
coffee

3 tbsp coffee
liqueur

75 mL cold milk

250g mascarpone
cheese

100g condensed
milk

1 tsp vanilla essence

6 sponge fingers

1 tbsp cocoa
powder

Method

Mix the coffee,
the coffee liqueur and 75mL milk in a shallow dish and set aside.

Make the cream
layer by beating the softened mascarpone, condensed milk and vanilla extract
with an electric whisk until thick and smooth.

Break the sponge
fingers into two or three pieces and soak in the coffee mixture for a few
seconds (don’t overdo it as they will disintegrate).

Put a few bits of the
sponge in the bottom of sundae glasses and top with the cream. Sift over the
cocoa and chill for at least 1 hr before serving.

Thursday, 1 September 2016

“True love is
not a strong, fiery, impetuous passion. It is, on the contrary, an element calm
and deep. It looks beyond mere externals, and is attracted by qualities alone.
It is wise and discriminating, and its devotion is real and abiding.” - Ellen G. WhitePassiflora, known also as
the passionflowers or passion vines, is a genus of about 500 species of
flowering plants, the type genus of the family Passifloraceae. They are mostly vines, with some being shrubs, and
a few species being herbaceous. The monotypic genus Hollrungia seems to be inseparable from Passiflora, but further study is needed.Passiflora edulis is a
vine species of passionflower that is native to Brazil, Paraguay and northern
Argentina. Its common names include passion fruit or passionfruit (English),
granadilla (Spanish), granadille (French), maracujá (Portuguese) and lilikoʻi
(Hawaiian). It is cultivated commercially in tropical and subtropical areas for
its sweet, seedy fruit. The passionfruit is a pepo, a type of berry, round to
oval, either yellow or dark purple at maturity, with a soft to firm, juicy
interior filled with numerous seeds. The fruit is both eaten and juiced;
passionfruit juice is often added to other fruit juices to enhance aroma.Passionfruit is
widely grown in several countries of South America, Central America, the
Caribbean, Africa, Southern Asia, Vietnam, Israel, Australia, South Korea,
Hawaii and mainland United States in Florida and California. Certain cultivars
are resilient against light frosts, and thus can survive perennially, even in
more temperate climates such as that of Great Britain.Several distinct
varieties of passionfruit with clearly differing exterior appearances exist.
The bright yellow flavicarpa variety, also known as the Golden Passionfruit,
can grow up to the size of a grapefruit, has a smooth, glossy, light and airy
rind, and has been used as a rootstock for the Purple Passionfruit in
Australia. The dark purple edulis
variety is smaller than a lemon, though it is less acidic than the yellow
passionfruit, and has a richer aroma and flavour. Several varieties of passionfruit are rich in polyphenol content, and yellow varieties of the fruit were
found to contain prunasin and other cyanogenic glycosides in the peel and juice.In Australia and
New Zealand, passionfruit is available commercially both fresh and tinned. It
is added to fruit salads, and fresh fruit pulp or passionfruit sauce is
commonly used in desserts, including as a topping for pavlova and ice cream, a
flavouring for cheesecake, and in the icing of vanilla slices. A
passionfruit-flavoured soft drink called ‘Passiona’ has also been manufactured
in Australia since the 1920s. The juice of the passionfruit is also used in
some alcoholic cocktails.The flower of
the passionfruit is the national flower of Paraguay. The flower symbolises
faith and religious fervour and was in the past used by missionaries in South
America to teach the natives the gospel.
If a purple passionflower is included in a bouquet, it signifies “I am still
faithful to the lover I have lost and I am mourning”. A pink passionflower
means “my ardour is tempered by my faith”. A white passionflower indicates: “I
am chaste and celibate.”This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme,and also part of the Friday Greens meme,and also part of the Food Friday meme.

Wednesday, 31 August 2016

“It is not the
mountain we conquer but ourselves.” - Edmund HillaryThis week, the
Mid-Week Motif in Poets United is “Conquest”. My contribution below:My memory of the
climb is dominated by the bitter cold – more intense and harsh than the
inhospitable terrain and the ache in each of my muscle fibres. The tracks
narrow, the ice and snow treacherous, each step calculated and deliberate. My
breath laboured and each time I raised my eyes to look at the peak beckoning
through breaks in the clouds, I wondered whether I would be able to reach that
shimmering, bright mountain top high above me or whether I would collapse in a
lifeless heap.Each new
mountain that we climb is a new challenge, each new peak that rises up in front
of us is a new invitation to conquer its heights. The path to the summit is
difficult, the climb is dangerous, the reward seemingly unattainable. And yet
we accept the challenge and we choose to climb; why? Because it is there?
Because of the hope of fame and glory? Because of the expectations of our peers
and friends? No, the need is deeper and more personal. We climb because we
must, we climb to conquer our own limitations and to vanquish our own internal
demons.Once at the top,
there is the heady feeling of success as one views the earth below as if it
were a prize offered on a tray. The mountain has been conquered, the fires
within have been extinguished and the yearning quelled.The road to your
heartIs steep, icy,
dangerous;But bliss its conquest…

Tuesday, 30 August 2016

“Anyone who
keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.” - Franz KafkaWelcome to the Travel Tuesday meme! Join me every Tuesday and showcase your creativity in photography, painting and drawing, music, poetry, creative writing or a plain old natter about Travel!There is only one simple rule: Link your own creative work about some aspect of travel and share it with the rest of us! Please use this meme for your creative endeavours only.Do not use this meme to advertise your products or services as any links or comments by advertisers will be removed immediately.

Prague (Czech: Praha) is
the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. It is the 15th largest city
in the European Union. It is also the historical capital of Bohemia. Situated
in the north-west of the country on the Vltava River, the city is home to about
1.26 million people, while its larger urban zone is estimated to have a population
of nearly 2 million. The city has a temperate climate, with warm summers and
chilly winters. Prague has the lowest unemployment rate in the European Union.

Prague has been
a political, cultural, and economic centre of central Europe with waxing and
waning fortunes during its 1,100-year existence. Founded during the Romanesque
and flourishing by the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque eras, Prague was not only
the capital of the Czech state, but also the seat of two Holy Roman Emperors
and thus also the capital of the Holy Roman Empire. It was an important city to
the Habsburg Monarchy and its Austro-Hungarian Empire and after World War I
became the capital of Czechoslovakia. The city played major roles in the
Bohemian and Protestant Reformation, the Thirty Years' War, and in 20th-century
history, during both World Wars and the post-war Communist era.Prague is home
to a number of famous cultural attractions, many of which survived the violence
and destruction of 20th-century Europe. Main attractions include the Prague
Castle, the Charles Bridge, the Old Town Square with the Prague astronomical
clock, the Jewish Quarter, Petřín hill and Vyšehrad. Since 1992, the extensive
historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World
Heritage Sites. The city boasts more than ten major museums, along with
numerous theatres, galleries, cinemas, and other historical exhibits. An
extensive modern public transportation system connects the city. Also, it is
home to a wide range of public and private schools, including Charles
University in Prague, the oldest university in Central Europe.Prague is
classified as an “Alpha” Global City according to GaWC studies, comparable to
Vienna, Seoul and Washington, D.C. Prague ranked sixth in the Tripadvisor world
list of best destinations in 2016. Its rich history makes it a popular tourist
destination, and the city receives more than 6.4 million international visitors
annually, as of 2014. Prague is the fifth most visited European city after London,
Paris, Istanbul and Rome. Prague’s low cost of living makes it a popular
destination for expats relocating to Europe.This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme,and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme.Add your own travel posts using the Linky tool below,and don't forget to be nice and leave a comment here, and link back to this page from your own post:

Monday, 29 August 2016

“Change is the principal feature of our age and literature should explore how people deal with it. The best science fiction does that, head-on.” - David BrinScience fiction is a genre of speculative fiction dealing with imaginative concepts such as futuristic science and technology, space travel, time travel, faster than light travel, parallel universes, and extraterrestrial life. Science fiction often explores the potential consequences of scientific and other innovations, and has been called a “literature of ideas.” It usually avoids dealing with the supernatural, and unlike the related genre of fantasy, science fiction stories historically were intended to have at least a faint grounding in science-based fact or theory at the time the story was created, but this connection has become tenuous or non-existent in much of science fiction nowadays.Science fiction is not new. “True Stories” (Ancient Greek: Ἀληθῆ διηγήματα, Alēthē diēgēmata; Latin: Vera Historia) is a parody of travel tales, by the Greek-speaking Assyrian author Lucian of Samosata, the earliest known fiction about travelling to outer space, alien life-forms and interplanetary warfare. Written in the 2nd century, the novel has been referred to as the first known text that could be called science fiction. The work was intended by Lucian as a satire against contemporary and ancient sources, which quote fantastic and mythical events as truth.Since that time, authors have been writing science fiction, with examples in the “Arabian Nights”, Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels”, Shelley’s “Frankestein” and many others. The genre fired the public imagination with the novels of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne who created a body of work that became popular across broad cross-sections of society. Since then, it has become broader and even more popular, with several sub-genres now included under the umbrella of “science fiction”.It is not surprising that this genre of fiction was very quickly translated to the silver screen almost as soon as movies were invented. It seems the medium lent itself to the genre, even in the early days of pioneer film-making. Georges Melies’ 1902 “A Trip to the Moon” employed trick photography effects and looked at a typical space travel scenario. The next major example in the genre was Fritz Lang’s 1927 “Metropolis”, being the first feature length science fiction movie. From the 1930s to the 1950s, the genre consisted mainly of low-budget B movies. After Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 landmark “2001: A Space Odyssey”, the science fiction film genre was taken more seriously. In the late 1970s, big-budget science fiction films filled with special effects became popular with audiences after the success of George Lucas’s 1977 “Star Wars” and paved the way for the blockbuster hits of subsequent decades.Similar to the literary genre, science fiction film (aka Sci-Fi movie) is a film genre that uses speculative, fictional science-based depictions of phenomena that are not fully accepted by mainstream science, such as extraterrestrial life-forms, alien worlds, extrasensory perception and time travel, along with futuristic elements such as spacecraft, robots, cyborgs, interstellar travel or other technologies. Science fiction films have often been used to focus on political or social issues, and to explore philosophical issues like the human condition. In many cases, tropes derived from written science fiction may be used by film-makers ignorant of or at best indifferent to the standards of scientific plausibility and plot logic to which written science fiction is traditionally held.I like a good science fiction movie, especially one where the viewer is immersed in a plot where the genre is free to examine philosophical or social issues that have a relevance to our society today. Stanley Kubrick’s classic 1971 movie “A Clockwork Orange” is a good example of this type. It is dystopian crime film adapted, produced, and directed by Stanley Kubrick, based on Anthony Burgess’s 1962 novel. It employs disturbing, violent images to comment on psychiatry, juvenile delinquency, youth gangs, and other social, political, and economic subjects in a dystopian near-future Britain.But having said that, I am also partial to well-made escapist science fiction that is simply a rollicking good tale. A typical example of this is the 2012 Andrew Stanton film “John Carter” based on Edgar Rice Burroughs’s “A Princess of Mars” (the first in a series of 11 novels by this author).We humans thrive on tall tales. Since ancient times people have crowded together and have amused one another by relating stories that are speculative, imaginative, invented. Whether they are myths and fables, fairy tales or horror stories, tales of distant imagined places on earth or other planets, these tales amuse and satisfy our sense of wonder and answer that magical question, “what if…?” Science fiction novels and films will keep on being written and we shall keep on reading and watching them. But please, authors and film-makers, make them good ones!

Sunday, 28 August 2016

“I’m a Baroque person. More than Baroque, I’m a
Rococo person. I don’t draw straight lines.” ―Nuno RoqueFrançois Boucher (born
Sept. 29, 1703, Paris, France—died May 30, 1770, Paris) was a painter,
engraver, and designer whose works are regarded as the perfect expression of
French taste in the Rococo period.Trained by his
father, a lace designer, Boucher won the Prix de Rome in 1723. He was
influenced by the works of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Peter Paul Rubens, and
his teacher François Le Moyne. Boucher’s first major commission was for
engravings of 125 drawings by Antoine Watteau. After illustrating an edition of
Molière’s works, he drew cartoons of farmyard scenes and chinoiserie for the
Beauvais tapestry factory.Boucher first
won fame with his sensuous and light-hearted mythological paintings and
pastoral landscapes. He executed important decorative commissions for the queen
at Versailles and for his friend and patron, Mme de Pompadour, at Versailles,
Marly, and Bellevue. He became a member of the Royal Academy in 1734 and then
became the principal producer of designs for the royal porcelain factories, as
well as director of the Gobelins tapestry factory.During the 1740s
and ’50s Boucher’s elegant and refined but playful style became the hallmark of
the court of Louis XV. His work was characterised by the use of delicate
colours, gently modelled forms, facile technique, and light-hearted subject
matter. Boucher is generally acclaimed as one of the great draughtsmen of the
18th century, particularly in his handling of the female nude.Although
immensely successful, Boucher lost his artistic preeminence toward the end of
his life; overproduction, poor translations of his paintings into tapestries,
the growing sterility of his own work, and the emergence of Neoclassicism
caused him to lose favour, both with the public and with such leading art
critics as Denis Diderot.

Yet Boucher, in
defiance of an increasing demand from theorists, critics, and public agitators,
continued to exhibit his cheerful and sugary visions of pastoral bliss and
mythological trysts at the biennial Salons. Indeed, his social connections and
efficient careerism resulted in his appointment in 1765 as First Painter to the
King and his election as director of the Académie Royale. This final triumph
was short lived, however, as Boucher died in Paris in 1770.

The painting above is "Spring" of 1755, one painting of a set of four depicting the Seasons. This is typical of Boucher's style and subject matter.

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Welcome to Nicholas V's Blog on Blogger

I have been blogging daily on this platform for several years now. It is surprising that I have persisted as the world is changing and "microblogging" is now the norm. I blog to amuse myself, make comment on current affairs, externalise some of my creativity, keep notes on things that interest me, learn something new and to surprise myself with things that I discover about this wonderful, and sometimes crazy, world we live in.

I sometimes get the impression that I am on a soapbox delivering a monologue, so your comments are welcome.